Regardless of where Giannis Antetokounmpo winds up, the two-time MVP feels the urgency to win while at the peak of his powers.
"It's always (about) competing, man," Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Eric Nehm. "I feel like I'm 31 years old. β¦ There's fewer chances left in front of me that I will be able to compete and be there, play and feel like the way I felt like a couple years ago.
"I just want to go back to that as soon as I can, because I feel like we're running out of chances, running out of time. Like, how long would your prime be? If I'm lucky, let's say 36, 37. If I take the LeBron James route, maybe 41, but let's be realistic here. β¦ Father Time is undefeated."
Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks has dominated NBA headlines for months.
Milwaukee has reportedly been listening to offers for the 10-time All-Star ahead of Thursday's trade deadline and apparently countered trade proposals from other teams.
The Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks are among the teams that have reportedly expressed strong interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo.
Golden State is apparently including four-time All-Star forward Draymond Green in its offer for the Greek Freak.
Antetokounmpo has repeatedly expressed a desire to stay with the Bucks but has also called out his teammates on multiple occasions this season amid the club's struggles.
Milwaukee sits 12th in the Eastern Conference, 3.5 games back of the Chicago Bulls for the conference's final play-in tournament spot.
"I want to be here, but I want to be here to win, not fighting for my life to make the playoffs," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm not used to inconsistent basketball. I've played so many years of consistent basketball, I am not used to it anymore. During the game, I don't know if you can see my face, (but) I get frustrated during the game, while the game is going on.
"I know there's gonna be times you're gonna lose; you're not gonna win all the games. β¦ But at the end of the day, it's like how we carry ourselves. I see other teams, how they are and how they play, how connected the chemistry they have and how people are doing the right thing, and they're riding for one another. I just want that. I want that for my team."
